Day 1 and 2 on Niue on board FGT Sat 21 &Sun 22 August 2010 (we had 2 Sundays due to the date line - nothing to do with us needing spiritual help)
Position Lat 19-03S Long 169-55W moored at Niue - Zero Cape Petrel miles to Niue. (1274m from Whangarei NZ)
Trip log 21256 at Noon today Days run 152nm -nice
Wind 10 knots East - South-East. Boat speed av 0 knots. Barometer 1016 steady
Sails - none!!
cloud cover puffy trade wind numbers Air temp 28C water temp 28C
Really bright full moon.
Fakaalofa Atu from Oma Tafua -(google for the really interesting explanation of Oma Tafua - donations welcome)
We tied up to a mooring good for a 1000 ton boat at 10am with Gerry winning the prize for the closest arrival time -the winner had the privilege of buying the crew drinks which he did with a 24 of
Steinlager - thanks Gerry. I just realised I got that wrong - Karlos won the prize so he owes us a 24!!
Going ashore is quite good fun - first find and blow up the mini-rubber ducky, clamp on the outboard - place one Ferryman Karlos in it and wonder where the passengers and goodies can fit.
Gerry needed a shave so he was taken ashore first - nothing to do with his wife, Anne, being here, of course! Has anyone seen him lately?? Next ashore - Chris who went to the motel where her friends were staying and reported back they had left her in their dust because they went to a craft market with folks singing and dancing.
Karen, Karlos and the Sm decided to water the boat at the wharf so we backed her in, tied her up with the help of four friendly Niueians, and got her done. Kind of exciting backing in between reefs with crashing waves and a 1 m surge. Odd behaviour from 4 yachties on the wharf who completely ignored us when it was obvious their help would have been appreciated.
While playing at the wharf our boss lady, Ms Olive Andrews,aka ' the Whale Lady' arrived with her fellow whale survey crew - Cara from NZ and Ben from Aus - all youngsters just brimming with energy and smiles. So enjoyable. Olive braved the surging boat and came back to the mooring with us, giving us the mail on the program and whipping up our enthusiasm nicely. PR is just one of her many talents.
We enjoyed the checkin process at Customs - so friendly but professional - they got the job done and chatted away about the fun we could expect on their island.
As we were sweating pretty good, a swim was in order - Chris was waiting for us on land so Olive -in her guise as a race car driver- took all of us for a chasm swim at Matapa chasm. These are peculiar to Niue with rugged coral and limestone walls. There are occluded walking paths - not too bad - which suddenly open out to amazing views of towering walls enclosing a giant rock pool of inviting water which is a mix of fresh and salt. Instantly there were a bunch of splashes as 8 hot and sweaty Palangi plunged in. Cries of too much - oohh aahh - look at the tropical fish`rang out for about 30 minutes as we cooled off in a most invigorating way. Think the best of South Pacific tropical swimming and colours, and you guys eat your heart out as the FGT crewmen swam with the mermaids on Niue - mind you we had to do it a couple more times the next day - It`s a tough life..
Back at Whale HQ - a bach overlooking the ocean where Olive Cara and Ben hang - look for pics - Olives next talent was hospitality with hot showers - and cool drinks, plus entertaining us with animated stories - she is chock full of amazing experiences and a great way of expressing herself - think a complete Billy Connolly -and her mum is a Scot.
Dinner at the Falala Fa resto by the wharf - run by the Rex family and of course you know that Rex means king so we were treated to dinner by the royal family of Niue, headed by Pauline, representing the beautiful and vibrant Niueians. Now if one was looking for a gab fest this was the place. Several other yacht crews turned up who had helped Oma Tafua so we had a mini multi cultural dinner with Niueians, NZers, Aussies, French, Canadians, and Norwegians. Delicious wahoo fish and chips, and Thai chicken salad for the FGT crew.
We slept soundly last night - still at last - still at last - brother the boat don`t rockn`roll or `tip over. Snooze city.
Brekky of coconut juice, toast and tea then off to Whale HQ with Olive - only took us an hour to get off the boat - get the washing - might as well wash the boat floor - fiddle with the outboard - where`s my mask and snorkel? You know - the usual antics trying to get going.
A feature of Niueian life is the Sunday church. Our more religious buddies checked out 2 services and reported the singing was stunning, as the SM found out later singing is pretty much a part of life here.
We played good little housekeepers and did the washing, Karlos helped the Whale HQ crew with lunch prep then we had a nature walk to the Talava Arches - pretty amazing walking through the bush to the huge cave-like entrance and as you peeped around the corner the arch appeared with the booming ocean behind, and your classic rock pools in front. Another tropical aquarium. But this one had, besides the colourful little fish and coral , a bunch of sea cucumbers or beche de mer.
Back at Whale HQ the most fantastic lunch - all local - was on the table thanks to almost everyone except the SM who is culinary challenged.
Plenty of NZ Sav Blanc, fruit juices and the healthy Niueian water - get your calcium and magnesium here. The whole gang arrived, the Rex family, Chris, Helen and Sue aka the snorkling mermaids - Team Scotland and Team Falcon. Lunch only lasted 6 hours during which Olive picked up a guitar and gave the most amazing singing and playing gig for 2 hours, under the tropical sky, in a tropical garden.-turns out Olive is pretty much a pro player. Roz Rex, our resident Niueian songstress doubled our enjoyment with Polynesian songs until Team Falcon joined in. I think the ulterior motive was to thin out the crowd - the Sm managed that alright when he gave his version of the Sloop John B!
We finished off the day with a traditional swim at Lemu and a shower at Whale HQ.
Back on the Falcon GT Big Bill the humpback greeted us by blowing off next to the boat 4 times - a powerful groan and whoose - we could see him clearly as he showed his massive tail - the FGT and whales are buddies now.
Tomorrow bright and early it's out to sea to check out the whales.
Mutolu Kia from the FalconGt crew
